U.S. patent number 10,933,899 [Application Number 16/746,252] was granted by the patent office on 2021-03-02 for shopping cart basket with forward handle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Unarco Industries LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Unarco Industries LLC. Invention is credited to Gregory Eric Dallen, William Timothy Harrison, Wesley McMurtrey.
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United States Patent |
10,933,899 |
Harrison , et al. |
March 2, 2021 |
Shopping cart basket with forward handle
Abstract
A shopping cart basket having a handle region located at the
front or the sides of the shopping cart basket is disclosed. The
forward handle region may have a plurality of openings along the
front, corners, and sides to allow a customer to easily grip the
shopping cart basket and guide the shopping cart. The shopping cart
basket may be formed from a metallic wire portion and a
non-metallic forward handle region, or in some embodiments, the
shopping cart basket may be formed from a fully formed from a
polymer material. The shopping cart may also include non-metallic
corner inserts that form a portion of the side and front walls of
the shopping cart as well as a non-metallic bottom insert that
forms a portion of the bottom wall of the shopping cart.
Inventors: |
Harrison; William Timothy
(Muskogee, OK), Dallen; Gregory Eric (Broken Arrow, OK),
McMurtrey; Wesley (Bixby, OK) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Unarco Industries LLC |
Wagoner |
OK |
US |
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Assignee: |
Unarco Industries LLC (Wagoner,
OK)
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Family
ID: |
1000005392692 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/746,252 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200148245 A1 |
May 14, 2020 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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16242100 |
Jan 8, 2019 |
10556609 |
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62615274 |
Jan 9, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B
5/061 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62B
5/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Evans; Bryan A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Arnold & Porter Kaye
Scholer
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/242,100 filed on Jan. 8, 2019, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/615,274
filed on Jan. 9, 2018. The above referenced applications are
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shopping cart comprising: a frame including a rear handle and
a chassis connected to four casters, a shopping cart basket
attached to the frame, wherein the shopping cart basket comprises a
front wall on a front end, a rear opening on a rear end opposite
the front wall, a first side wall extending between the front wall
and the rear end, a second side wall extending between the front
wall and the rear end opposite the first side wall, and a bottom
wall extending between the front wall, the first side wall, and the
second side wall, wherein the shopping cart basket includes: a wire
basket portion formed from a plurality of metallic wires that
includes a bottom wire mesh region that forms a portion of the
bottom wall and a central forward region located forward of the
bottom wire mesh region that has only metallic wires extending in a
front to rear direction, a forward handle positioned on an
uppermost wire of the wire basket portion and forming an upper
portion of the shopping cart basket along the front wall and a
portion of the first and second side walls, and a bottom insert
forming a forward region of the bottom wall that extends rearward
from the front wall to the bottom wire mesh region, wherein a
bottom surface of the bottom insert is located on top of the
central forward region; and wherein the forward handle and the
bottom insert are formed from a non-metallic material.
2. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the shopping cart basket
further includes: a first corner insert that extends from the front
wall to the first side wall, and a second corner insert that
extends from the front wall to the second side wall, wherein the
first corner insert and the second corner insert are formed from a
non-metallic material.
3. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the forward handle
includes a main body portion positioned along the front wall of the
shopping cart basket, a first side arm that extends from the main
body portion along the first side wall of the shopping cart basket,
and a second side arm that extends from the main body portion along
the second side wall of the shopping cart basket, and wherein the
main body portion includes a pair of front openings.
4. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the forward handle
includes a recess along a bottom surface of the forward handle that
receives an uppermost wire of the wire basket portion.
5. The shopping cart of claim 2, wherein the first corner insert
and the second corner insert extend from the bottom insert to the
forward handle.
6. The shopping cart of claim 2, wherein the first corner insert
has an outward facing surface that extends from the first side wall
to the front wall, and wherein the outward facing surface has a
rounded shape.
7. The shopping cart of claim 2, wherein the bottom insert includes
a plurality of rear tabs that engage a forwardmost horizontal wire
of the bottom wire mesh region.
8. The shopping cart of claim 2, wherein the bottom insert includes
a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, a top
surface extending between the front surface to the rear surface,
the bottom surface opposite the top surface, a pair of side
surfaces, and a pair of corner surfaces, wherein a forwardmost edge
of each corner surface is located forward of the front surface.
9. The shopping cart of claim 8, wherein the bottom insert has
forward tabs extending from the front surface that engage a
perimeter wire of the plurality of wires that form the wire basket
portion, wherein the perimeter wire extends across the front wall
of the plurality of wires that form the wire basket portion.
10. A shopping cart comprising: a frame including a rear handle and
a chassis connected to four casters, a shopping cart basket
attached to the frame, wherein the shopping cart basket comprises a
front wall on a front end, a rear opening on a rear end opposite
the front wall, a first side wall extending between the front wall
and the rear end, a second side wall extending between the front
wall and the rear end opposite the first side wall, and a bottom
wall extending between the front wall, the first side wall, and the
second side wall, wherein the shopping cart basket includes: a wire
basket portion formed from a plurality of metallic wires that
includes a bottom wire mesh region that forms a portion of the
bottom wall, a forward handle positioned on an uppermost wire of
the wire basket portion and forming an upper portion of the
shopping cart basket along the front wall and a portion of the
first and second side walls, a first corner insert that extends
from the front wall to the first side wall, and a bottom insert
forms a forward region of the bottom wall that extends rearward
from the front wall to the bottom wire mesh region, and the first
corner insert engages the bottom insert at a first end and engages
the forward handle at a second end opposite the first end, and
wherein the forward handle, the bottom insert, and the first corner
insert are formed from a non-metallic material.
11. The shopping cart of claim 10, wherein the shopping cart basket
further includes a second corner insert that extends from the front
wall to the second side wall, and wherein the second corner insert
are formed from a non-metallic material.
12. The shopping cart of claim 10, wherein the first corner insert
has an outward facing surface and an inward facing surface opposite
the outward facing surface, wherein the inward facing surface
includes a plurality of grooves, wherein each groove of the
plurality of grooves receives a perimeter wire of the plurality of
wires that form the wire basket portion, wherein the perimeter wire
extends across the front wall of the plurality of wires that form
the wire basket portion.
13. The shopping cart of claim 10, wherein the first corner insert
has an outward facing surface that extends from the first side wall
to the front wall, and wherein the outward facing surface has a
radius within a range of 8 centimeters and 18 centimeters.
14. A shopping cart comprising: a frame including a rear handle and
a chassis connected to four casters, a shopping cart basket
attached to the frame, wherein the shopping cart basket comprises a
front wall on a front end, a rear opening on a rear end opposite
the front wall, a first side wall extending between the front wall
and the rear end, a second side wall extending between the front
wall and the rear end opposite the first side wall, and a bottom
wall extending between the front wall, the first side wall, and the
second side wall, wherein the shopping cart basket includes: a wire
basket portion formed from a plurality of metallic wires that
includes a bottom wire mesh region that forms a portion of the
bottom wall, a forward handle positioned on an uppermost wire of
the wire basket portion and forming an upper portion of the
shopping cart basket along the front wall and a portion of the
first and second side walls, wherein the forward handle includes a
main body portion positioned along the front wall of the shopping
cart basket, a first side arm that extends from the main body
portion along the first side wall of the shopping cart basket, and
a second side arm that extends from the main body portion along the
second side wall of the shopping cart basket, and wherein the main
body portion includes a pair of front openings; a first corner
insert that extends from the front wall to the first side wall, a
second corner insert that extends from the front wall to the second
side wall, a bottom insert forming a forward region of the bottom
wall that extends rearward from the front wall to the bottom wire
mesh region; wherein the bottom insert includes a plurality of rear
tabs that engage a forwardmost horizontal wire of the bottom wire
mesh region; and wherein the forward handle, the first corner
insert, the second corner insert, and the bottom insert are formed
from a non-metallic material.
15. The shopping cart of claim 14, wherein the first corner insert
engages the bottom insert at a first end and engages the forward
handle at a second end opposite the first end.
16. The shopping cart of claim 14, wherein the bottom insert
includes a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front
surface, a top surface extending between the front surface to the
rear surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a pair of
side surfaces, and a pair of corner surfaces, wherein a forwardmost
edge of each corner surface is located forward of the front
surface.
17. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the bottom insert has a
length within a range of 10 percent and 20 percent of a length of
the bottom wall, wherein the length is measured in a direction from
the front end to the rear end of the shopping cart basket.
18. The shopping cart of claim 1, wherein the bottom insert has a
top surface that is substantially planar with a plane defined by a
top of the bottom wire mesh region.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure relates to baskets for shopping carts for grocery
stores and the like and shopping carts.
BACKGROUND
At present, the American-market, adult, full-size, wire-made
shopping cart has a distinctive construction of a frame, casters,
basket, hinged back gate and child seat.
The frame is composed of a chassis and a handle, made up of
multiple, bent steel tubes, and sits atop four casters, the rear
two of which track forward and back, and the front two of which
swivel. A lower shelf of wire lies between the lower side rails of
the chassis. The frame handle rises in the back from the chassis to
form the "driver's" "steering mechanism." The basket is see-through
and mounts atop the frame, forward of the handle. A hinged back
gate with a folding child seat completes the basket and allows the
carts to nest with each other in the manner familiar to all
shoppers in stores with carts.
While the frame handle is mounted at the rear of the shopping cart,
a means to allow the customer to easily grasp the shopping cart
from the front to provide an alternate means of propelling the
shopping cart would be helpful.
BRIEF SUMMARY
This disclosure may relate to a shopping cart that includes: a
frame including a rear handle and a chassis connected to four
casters, a shopping cart basket attached to the frame, where the
shopping cart basket may have a front wall on a front end, a rear
opening on a rear end opposite the front wall, a first side wall
extending between the front wall and the rear end, a second side
wall extending between the front wall and the rear end opposite the
first side wall, and a bottom wall extending between the front
wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall. The shopping
cart basket may include a wire basket portion formed from a
plurality of metallic wires that includes a bottom wire mesh region
that forms a portion of the bottom wall, a forward handle
positioned on an uppermost wire of the wire basket portion and
forming an upper portion of the shopping cart basket along with
front wall and a portion of the first and second side walls, and a
bottom insert forming a forward region of the bottom wall that
extends rearward from the front wall to the bottom wire mesh
region. The forward handle and the bottom insert may be formed from
a non-metallic material. The shopping cart basket may further
include a first corner insert that extends from the front wall to
the first side wall, and a second corner insert that extends from
the front wall to the second side wall, where the first corner
insert and the second corner insert are formed from a non-metallic
material. The forward handle may also include a main body portion
positioned along the front wall of the shopping cart basket, a
first side arm that extends from the main body portion along the
first side wall of the shopping cart basket, and a second side arm
that extends from the main body portion along the second side wall
of the shopping cart basket. The main body portion may have a pair
of front openings. The forward handle may also have a recess along
a bottom surface of the forward handle that receives an uppermost
wire of the wire basket portion. The first corner insert and the
second corner insert may extend from the bottom insert to the
forward handle. The first corner insert may have an outward facing
surface that extends from the first side wall to the front wall,
where the outward facing may have a rounded shape. The bottom
insert may have a plurality of rear tabs that engage a forwardmost
horizontal wire of the bottom wire mesh region. The bottom insert
may also have a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front
surface, a top surface extending between the front surface to the
rear surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a pair of
side surfaces, and a pair of corner surfaces, where a forwardmost
edge of each corner surface is located forward of the front
surface. The bottom surface of the bottom insert may be positioned
on top of a portion of the plurality of wires that extend from the
front end to the rear end of the wire basket portion. The bottom
insert may include forward tabs extending from the front surface
that engage a perimeter wire of the plurality of wires that form
the wire basket portion, where the perimeter wire extends across
the front wall of the plurality of wires that form the wire basket
portion.
Other aspects of this disclosure may relate to a shopping cart that
includes: a frame including a rear handle and a chassis connected
to four casters, a shopping cart basket attached to the frame,
where the shopping cart basket has a front wall on a front end, a
rear opening on a rear end opposite the front wall, a first side
wall extending between the front wall and the rear end, a second
side wall extending between the front wall and the rear end
opposite the first side wall, and a bottom wall extending between
the front wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall. The
shopping cart basket may include: a wire basket portion formed from
a plurality of metallic wires that includes a bottom wire mesh
region that forms a portion of the bottom wall, a forward handle
positioned on an uppermost wire of the wire basket portion and
forming an upper portion of the shopping cart basket along with
front wall and a portion of the first and second side walls, and a
first corner insert that extends from the front wall to the first
side wall. The forward handle and the first corner insert may be
formed from a non-metallic material. The shopping cart basket may
further include a second corner insert that extends from the front
wall to the second side wall, and where the second corner insert
may be formed from a non-metallic material. A bottom insert may
form a forward region of the bottom wall that extends rearward from
the front wall to the bottom wire mesh region, and where the bottom
insert may be formed from a non-metallic material. The first corner
insert may engage the bottom insert at a first end and may also
engage the forward handle at a second end opposite the first end.
The first corner insert may have an outward facing surface and an
inward facing surface opposite the outward facing surface, where
the inward facing surface includes a plurality of substantially
horizontal grooves. Each groove of the plurality of grooves may
receive a perimeter wire of the plurality of wires that form the
wire basket portion, where the perimeter wire extends across the
front wall of the plurality of wires that form the wire basket
portion. The first corner insert may have an outward facing surface
that extends from the first side wall to the front wall, where the
outward facing may have a radius within a range of 8 centimeters
and 15 centimeters.
Still additional aspects of this disclosure may relate to a
shopping cart including: a frame including a rear handle and a
chassis connected to four casters, a shopping cart basket attached
to the frame, where the shopping cart basket comprises a front wall
on a front end, a rear opening on a rear end opposite the front
wall, a first side wall extending between the front wall and the
rear end, a second side wall extending between the front wall and
the rear end opposite the first side wall, and a bottom wall
extending between the front wall, the first side wall, and the
second side wall. The shopping cart basket may include: a wire
basket portion formed from a plurality of metallic wires that
includes a bottom wire mesh region that forms a portion of the
bottom wall, a forward handle positioned on an uppermost wire of
the wire basket portion and forming an upper portion of the
shopping cart basket along the front wall and a portion of the
first and second side walls, wherein the forward handle includes a
main body portion positioned along the front wall of the shopping
cart basket, a first side arm that extends from the main body
portion along the first side wall of the shopping cart basket, and
a second side arm that extends from the main body portion along the
second side wall of the shopping cart basket, and wherein the main
body portion includes a pair of front openings; a first corner
insert that extends from the front wall to the first side wall; a
second corner insert that extends from the front wall to the second
side wall; and a bottom insert forming a forward region of the
bottom wall that extends rearward from the front wall to the bottom
wire mesh region. The forward handle, the first corner insert, the
second corner insert, and the bottom insert may be formed from a
non-metallic material. The first corner insert may engage the
bottom insert at a first end and also engage the forward handle at
a second end opposite the first end. The bottom insert may include
a plurality of rear tabs that engage a forwardmost horizontal wire
of the bottom wire mesh region. The bottom insert may also include
a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, a top
surface extending between the front surface to the rear surface, a
bottom surface opposite the top surface, a pair of side surfaces,
and a pair of corner surfaces, wherein a forwardmost edge of each
corner surface is located forward of the front surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To allow for a more full understanding of the present disclosure,
it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a top front perspective view of an embodiment of
a shopping cart basket as disclosed herein;
FIG. 2 illustrates a top front perspective view of an embodiment of
a shopping cart having a shopping cart basket shown in FIG. 1 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the front portion of the
perspective view of the shopping cart basket shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom back perspective view of a handle
region of the shopping cart basket as disclosed herein with the
wire portion of the shopping cart basket removed;
FIG. 8 illustrates a top front perspective view of an alternate
embodiment of a shopping cart basket as disclosed herein;
FIG. 9 illustrates a top front perspective view of an embodiment of
a shopping cart having a shopping cart basket as shown in FIG. 8 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 10 illustrates an enlarged view of the front portion of the
perspective view of the shopping cart basket shown in FIG. 8 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 12 illustrates a front view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 13 is rear view of the shopping cart basket of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 8 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 14 illustrates a top front perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of a shopping cart as disclosed herein;
FIG. 15 illustrates a top front perspective view of the shopping
cart basket of the shopping cart shown in FIG. 14 as disclosed
herein;
FIG. 16 illustrates a top rear perspective view of the shopping
cart basket of the shopping cart shown in FIG. 14 as disclosed
herein;
FIG. 17 illustrates a front view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 18 illustrates a rear view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 19 illustrates a right side view of the shopping cart basket
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 20 illustrates a left side view of the shopping cart basket of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 21 illustrates a top view of the shopping cart basket of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 22 illustrates a bottom view of the shopping cart basket of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 23 illustrates an exploded top front perspective view of the
shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 24 illustrates a partial bottom front perspective view of the
shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 25 illustrates a partial exploded top front perspective view
of the shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 26 illustrates a partial front perspective view of a partially
assembled shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15
as disclosed herein;
FIG. 27 illustrates a partial front perspective view of a partially
assembled shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15
as disclosed herein;
FIG. 28 illustrates a partial front perspective view of a partially
assembled shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15
as disclosed herein;
FIG. 29 illustrates a top front perspective view of a partially
assembled shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15
as disclosed herein;
FIG. 30 illustrates an enlarged partial side perspective view of a
partially assembled shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 31 illustrates an enlarged partial front perspective view of a
partially assembled shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15 as disclosed herein;
FIG. 32 illustrates a partially assembled wire basket portion of
the shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 33 illustrates a partially assembled wire basket portion of
the shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 34 illustrates a partially assembled wire basket portion of
the shopping cart basket of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 as
disclosed herein;
FIG. 35 illustrates a top rear perspective view of the bottom
insert as disclosed herein; and
FIG. 36 illustrates a rear perspective view of the corner insert as
disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description of various example structures
according to the invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way
of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments
in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be
understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example
devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural
and functional modifications may be made without departing from the
scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms "top,"
"bottom," "front," "back," "side," "rear," "proximal," "distal,"
and the like may be used in this specification to describe various
example features and elements of the invention, these terms are
used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example
orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical
use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring
a specific three-dimensional orientation of structures in order to
fall within the scope of this invention, unless explicitly
specified by the claims. Further, "providing" an article, as used
herein, refers broadly to making an article available or accessible
for future actions to be performed on the article, and does not
connote that the party providing the article has manufactured,
produced, or supplied the article or that the party providing the
article has ownership or control of the article. The reader is also
advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to
scale.
In general, this disclosure relates to a shopping cart basket
having a forward handle region to allow a customer to easily grip
and pull a shopping cart.
FIGS. 1-7 illustrate an embodiment of a shopping cart basket 100
having a hybrid type construction meaning that the shopping cart
basket 100 may be made from multiple components such as having a
wire basket region 112 formed from a metallic component that forms
the lower portion of the shopping cart basket 100 and a forward
handle region 114 formed from a non-metallic or polymer component
that forms the upper portion of the shopping cart basket 100. The
shopping cart basket 100 comprises a front side or front end 102, a
rear side or rear end 104 opposite the front end 102, a left side
106, a right side 108, and a bottom side 110. The shopping cart
basket may include a front wall 103 on the front end 102, a rear
opening 105 on the rear end 104 opposite the front wall 103, a left
side wall 107 extending between the front wall 103 and the rear end
104, a right side wall 109 extending between the front wall 103 and
the rear end 104 opposite the left side wall 107, and a bottom wall
111 extending between the front wall 103, the left side wall 107,
and the right side wall 109. The handle region 114 may comprise a
main body portion 116 positioned along the top of the front side
102 of the basket 100 with a pair of arms 118, 120 extending from
each end of the main body portion 116 and extending along the top
of both the left side 106 and the right side 108 of the shopping
cart basket 100. Each of the arms 118, 120 may extend up the entire
length of the left side 106 and right side 108 respectively of the
shopping cart basket 100. Alternatively, each of the arms 118, 120
may extend up the majority of the length of the left side 106 and
right side 108 respectively of the shopping cart basket 100. In
addition, the forward handle region 114 may be symmetrical around a
plane extending in a vertical direction through a midpoint of the
main body portion 116.
FIG. 2 illustrates a shopping cart 10 with the shopping cart basket
100 installed on a frame 12 that is comprised of a chassis 14 and a
handle 16, where the chassis sits atop four casters 22. A hinged
back gate 18 with a folding child seat 20 complete the shopping
cart 10 and allows the carts to nest with each other in the manner
familiar to all shoppers in stores with shopping carts 10.
The forward handle region 114 may include an upper surface 122 that
forms the overall upper surface of the shopping cart basket 100. In
addition, the handle region 114 may include a lower surface 124
that engages and secures the handle region 114 to a top of the wire
basket region 112. In addition, a groove 126 may extend along an
entire length of the handle region 114, where the groove 126
extends along from an end of arm 118 near the rear side 104 to the
front side 102 along the main body portion 116 and then along the
arm 120 back towards the rear side 104. The groove 126 may be
positioned between the lower surface 124 and a top groove surface
128. The groove 126 may be configured to receive and secure a
support rod 24 that helps to secure the shopping cart basket 100 to
the chassis 14 of the shopping cart 10 and to enhance the
durability of the shopping cart basket 100. The upper surface 122
and the lower surface 124 may converge toward each other and form
an acute angle along each arm 118, 120.
The handle region 114 may be removably or permanently joined to the
wire basket region 112. For example, the handle region 114 may be
removably connected to the wire basket region 112 using mechanical
fasteners, such as screws or multiple snap fit connections.
Alternatively, the handle region 114 may be permanently joined to
the wire basket region 112 using an adhesive, a mechanical swaging
technique, or by molding the handle region 114 onto the wire basket
region 112.
The handle region 114 may further comprise at least one front
opening 130 or as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, a plurality
of front openings 130 extending through the main body portion 116.
The front openings 130 may be may be located between the upper
surface 122 and the top groove surface 128, or more specifically
between the handle surface 123 and the top groove surface 128. The
handle surface 123 may be spaced downward from the upper surface
122 toward the lower surface 124. Additionally, the handle surface
123 may be spaced a constant distance from the upper surface 122
from the main body portion 116. The plurality of front openings 130
may be substantially trapezoidal in shape, although they may be any
shape such as rectangular or elliptical. In addition, the front
openings 130 may be tapered where the front portion of the opening
is wider than the rear portion of the front openings 130. The front
openings 130 may be separated from each other by a forward support
rib 132 that connects the upper surface 122 to the top groove
surface 128. The forward support rib 132 may extend from the handle
surface 123 to the top groove surface 128. The forward support rib
132 may be centrally located along the front side 102 of the
shopping cart basket 100. Each of the front openings 130 may be
sized such that a customer may extend a portion of their hand
through either of the front openings 130 to pull the shopping cart
10 in their desired direction. Each front opening 130 may be sized
to have a length measured horizontally of at least 80 mm, or within
a range of 80 mm and 140 mm, or within a range of 90 mm and 130 mm.
In addition, each of the front openings 130 may have a height
measured vertically of at least 30 mm, or within a range of 30 mm
and 60 mm, or within a range of 38 mm and 50 mm. As another way of
describing the front openings 130, the size of the front openings
130 may have a ratio of the minimum horizontal length to the
minimum vertical height within a range of 1.3:1 to 4.6:1, or within
a range of 1.8:1 to 3.4:1, or within a range of 2.3:1 to 2.7:1. The
minimum horizontal length may be defined as the minimum distance
between a corner rib 138 and the forward support rib 132. The
minimum height may be defined as the minimum distance between the
handle surface 123 and the top groove surface 128.
In addition, a corner section 134 of the handle region 114 may be
defined as the section where each of the arms 118, 120 extend from
the main body portion 116. Each corner section 134 may have a
substantial radius that joins the main body portion 116 to each of
the arms 118, 120. Also, each corner section 134 may have a corner
opening 136 that extends from the front side 102 towards the rear
side 104 and either of the sides 106, 108. The corner openings 136
may be located between the upper surface 122 and the top groove
surface 128, or more specifically between the handle surface 123
and the top groove surface 128. The corner openings 136 may also be
substantially trapezoidal in shape, although they may be any shape
such as rectangular or elliptical. In addition, each corner opening
136 may be separated from a front opening 130 by a corner rib 138
that connects the upper surface 122 to the top groove surface 128.
Each corner rib 138 may extend from the handle surface 123 to the
top groove surface 128. Each of the corner openings 136 may be
sized such that a customer may extend a portion of their hand
through either of the corner openings 136 to pull the shopping cart
10 in their desired direction. Each corner opening 136 may have a
horizontal length of at least 160 mm, or within a range of 160 mm
and 220 mm, or within a range of 170 mm and 200 mm, and may have a
vertical height of at least 20 mm, or within a range of 20 mm and
45 mm, or within a range of 15 mm and 50 mm. As another way of
describing the corner openings 136, the size of the corner openings
136 may have a ratio of the minimum horizontal length to the
minimum vertical height within a range of 3.4:1 to 13.3:1, or
within a range of 4.0:1 to 11.3:1, or within a range of 4.9:1 to
8:1. The minimum horizontal length may be defined as the minimum
distance between a corner rib 138 and the side rib 146. The minimum
height may be defined as the minimum distance between the handle
surface 123 and the top groove surface 128.
Each arm 118, 120 may further comprise a recess 140 where the
recess 140 is positioned along an exterior side surface 142 of each
arm 118, 120. The recess 140 may provide another location for a
customer to grasp on the shopping cart 10. At least a portion of
each recess 140 may be positioned above each of the corresponding
corner openings 136 and may have a length that is less than the
length of the corner opening 136. The recess 140 may have a length
of at least 130 mm. The recess 140 may be elongated and generally
elliptical in shape and include a smooth rounded concave lower
surface.
Additionally, each arm 118, 120 may include a side opening 144
spaced rearward and separated from the corner opening 136 by a side
rib 146. Each side opening 144 may be generally triangular in shape
and have a maximum height of at least 20 mm. In addition, the
handle region 114 may have smooth rounded exterior surfaces
adjacent and along the edges of the openings to provide a
comfortable surface for the customer to grasp.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of interior ribs 148 may be
present between the upper surface 122 and the handle surface 123 of
the front openings 130, the corner openings 136, and the side
openings 144. These interior ribs 148 allow the handle region 114
to be lightweight and still provide the structural strength for
durability of the shopping cart basket 100.
As discussed above, the handle region 114 may be formed of a
polymer material, such as nylon, polycarbonate, or other rigid
polymer. The polymer material may be fiber filled or unfilled.
Further, the handle region 114 may be formed from a molding process
such as injection or rotational molding.
The wire basket region 112 may be formed from a plurality of
individual wires oriented horizontally and vertically that cross at
right angles to form a wire mesh 113. The mesh is permanently
joined as known to own skilled in the art.
FIGS. 8-13 illustrate an alternate embodiment of shopping cart
basket 200, where the shopping cart basket is made of polymer
material. For embodiment of FIGS. 8-13, the features are referred
to using similar reference numerals under the "2xx" series of
reference numerals, rather than "1xx" as used in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-7. Accordingly, certain features of the shopping cart
basket 200 that were already described above with respect to
shopping cart basket 100 of FIGS. 1-7 may be described in lesser
detail, or may not be described at all. Shopping cart basket 200
may be formed as a single integral piece such that the handle
region 214 is formed with the lower basket portion 212. The lower
basket portion 212 may generally have a honeycomb structure formed
from a plurality of nested hexagonal shaped walls, where the
honeycomb structure includes a plurality of visible openings.
The handle region 214 may have a similar structure described above
with respect to the handle region 114 described above. The handle
region 214 may further comprise at least one front opening 230 or
as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-13, a plurality of front
openings 230. The front openings 230 may be positioned between the
top groove surface 228 and a handle surface 223 spaced downward
from the upper surface 222 toward the lower surface 224. The handle
surface 223 may be spaced a constant distance from the upper
surface 222 along the main body portion 216. The plurality of front
openings 230 may be separated from each other by a forward support
rib 232 that connects the upper surface 222 to the top groove
surface 228. The forward support rib 132 may extend from the handle
surface 223 to the top groove surface 228. Each of the front
openings 230 may be sized such that a customer may extend a portion
of their hand through either of the front openings 230 to pull the
shopping cart 10 in their desired direction. Each front opening 230
may be sized to have a length measured horizontally of at least 80
mm, or within a range of 80 mm and 140 mm, or within a range of 90
mm and 130 mm. In addition, each of the front openings 230 may have
a height measured vertically of at least 30 mm, or within a range
of 30 mm and 60 mm, or within a range of 38 mm and 50 mm. As
another way of describing the front openings 230, the size of the
front openings 230 may have a ratio of the minimum horizontal
length to the minimum vertical height within a range of 1.3:1 to
4.6:1, or within a range of 1.8:1 to 3.4:1, or within a range of
2.3:1 to 2.7:1. The minimum horizontal length may be defined as the
minimum distance between a corner rib 238 and the forward support
rib 232. The minimum height may be defined as the minimum distance
between the handle surface 223 and the top groove surface 228.
In addition, a corner section 234 of the handle region 214 may be
defined as the section where each of the arms 218, 220 extend from
the main body portion 216. Each corner section 234 may have a
substantial radius that joins the main body portion 216 to each of
the arms 218, 220. Also, each corner section 234 may have a corner
opening 236 that extends from where the front side 202 towards the
rear side 204 and either of the sides 206, 208. The corner openings
236 may be separated from a front opening 130 by a corner rib 238
that connects the upper surface 222 to the top groove surface 228.
Each corner rib 238 may extend from the handle surface 223 to the
top groove surface 228. Each of the corner openings 236 may be
sized such that a customer may extend a portion of their hand
through either of the corner openings 236 to pull the shopping cart
10 in their desired direction. Each corner opening 236 may have a
horizontal length of at least 160 mm, or within a range of 160 mm
and 220 mm, or within a range of 170 mm and 200 mm, and may have a
vertical height of at least 20 mm, or within a range of 20 mm and
45 mm, or within a range of 15 mm and 50 mm. As another way of
describing the corner openings 236, the size of the corner openings
236 may have a ratio of the minimum horizontal length to the
minimum vertical height within a range of 3.4:1 to 13.3:1, or
within a range of 4.0:1 to 11.3:1, or within a range of 4.9:1 to
8:1. The minimum horizontal length may be defined as the minimum
distance between a corner rib 238 and the side rib 246. The minimum
height may be defined as the minimum distance between the handle
surface 223 and the top groove surface 228.
Each arm 218, 220 may further comprise a recess 240 where at least
a portion of the recess 240 is positioned along an exterior side
surface 242 of each arm 218, 220. The recess 240 may provide
another location for a customer to grasp on the shopping cart 10.
At least a portion of each recess 240 may be positioned above each
of the corresponding corner openings 236 and may have a length that
is less than the length of the corner opening 236. The recess 240
may have a length of at least 130 mm. The recess 240 may be
elongated in shape and include a smooth rounded concave lower
surface.
Additionally, each arm 218, 220 may also include a side opening 244
spaced rearward and separated from a side rib 246. In addition, as
shown in FIG. 13, the a plurality of interior ribs 248 may be
present between the upper surface 222 and the upper surfaces of the
front openings 230, the corner openings 236, and the side openings
244. These interior ribs 248 allow the handle region 214 to be
lightweight and still provide the structural strength for
durability of the shopping cart basket 200.
The shopping cart basket 200 may be formed from a polymer material,
such as nylon, polycarbonate, or other rigid polymer. The polymer
material may be fiber filled or unfilled. Further, the shopping
cart basket 200 may be formed from multiple components that are
formed and then joined together or formed as a single integral
piece. In addition, the shopping cart basket 200 may be formed from
a molding process such as injection or rotational molding.
As another alternative option of both shopping cart baskets 100 and
200, the handle regions 114, 214 of each configuration may be
without either or both of the front openings 130, 230, either or
both of the corner openings 136, 236, and either or both of the
side openings 144, 244.
FIGS. 14-36 illustrate example shopping cart basket 300. In this
example, shopping cart basket 300 has a hybrid type construction
meaning that the shopping cart basket 300 may be made from multiple
components such as having a wire basket portion 312 formed from a
metallic component that forms the lower portion of the shopping
cart basket 300 and a forward handle 314 formed from a non-metallic
or polymer component that forms the upper portion of the shopping
cart basket 300. For shopping cart basket 300 of FIGS. 14-36, the
features are referred to using similar reference numerals under the
"3xx" series of reference numerals, rather than "1xx" as used in
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7. Accordingly, certain features of the
shopping cart basket 300 that were already described above with
respect to basket 100 of FIGS. 1-7 may be described in lesser
detail, or may not be described at all. Similar to shopping cart
baskets 100, 200, shopping cart basket 300 may include a front side
or front end 302, a rear side or rear end 304 opposite the front
end 302, a left side 306, a right side 308, and a bottom side 310.
The shopping cart basket may include a front wall 303 on the front
end 302, a rear opening 305 on the rear end 304 opposite the front
wall 303, a left side wall 307 extending between the front wall 303
and the rear end 304, a right side wall 309 extending between the
front wall 303 and the rear end 304 opposite the left side wall
107, and a bottom wall 311 extending between the front wall 303,
the left side wall 307, and the right side wall 309. The forward
handle 314 may have similar features to the forward handle 114, 214
of shopping cart baskets 100, 200 described above. For example, the
forward handle 314 may include a main body portion 316 positioned
along the top of the front end 302 of the basket 300 with a pair of
arms 318, 320 extending from each end of the main body portion 316
and extending along the top of both the left side 306 and the right
side 308 of the shopping cart basket 300. Each of the arms 318, 320
may extend up the entire length of the left side 306 and right side
308 respectively of the shopping cart basket 300. Alternatively,
each of the arms 318, 320 may extend up the majority of the length
of the left side 306 and right side 308 respectively of the
shopping cart basket 300. In addition, the forward handle region
314 may be symmetrical around a plane extending in a vertical
direction through a midpoint of the main body portion 316.
In addition, shopping cart 300 may include a forward handle 314
located along an upper or uppermost wire 350 of the wire basket
portion 312, a pair of non-metallic corner inserts 360, and a
bottom insert 380. Each corner insert 360 may extend from the
bottom insert 380 to the forward handle 314, where each corner
insert 360 may engage both the bottom insert 380 and the forward
handle 314 to secure the corner inserts 360 to the basket 300. In
some examples, the corner inserts may connect to the forward handle
314 and the bottom insert 380 with a snap-fit connection.
The forward handle 314 may have a recess 325 on a bottom surface
324, where the recess 325 receives an uppermost wire 350C of the
plurality of wires 350 that form the wire basket portion 312. The
recess 325 may also form an undercut within the recess 325 to
engage each of the corner inserts 360.
The bottom insert 380 may form a forward region 354 of the bottom
wall 311 that extends rearward from the front wall 303 to a bottom
wire mesh region 356 of the bottom wall. The bottom insert 380 may
have a length when measured in a direction oriented from the front
end 302 to the rear end 304 of approximately 15 percent of the
overall length of the bottom wall 311, or may have a length within
a range of 10 percent to 20 percent of the overall length of the
bottom wall 311. The bottom insert 380 may have a top surface 382,
a bottom surface 384 opposite the top surface 382, a front surface
386, a rear surface 388 opposite the front surface 386, a pair of
side surfaces 390, and a pair of corner surfaces 392 extending
between each side surface 390 and the front surface 386. The top
surface 382 may be substantially planar with a plane formed by the
top of the wires 350 of the bottom wire mesh portion 356, or in
some examples, the top surface 382 may be within 0.7 cm of a plane
formed by the top of the wires 350 of the bottom wire mesh portion
356. The bottom insert 380 may have a plurality of rear tabs 394
extending from the rear surface 388. Each tab 394 may have a lower
ledge 397 that extends below the bottom surface 384. Each lower
ledge 397 may engage a wire 350A that extends between the left side
wall 307 and the right side wall 309 where the lower ledge 397 is
positioned below the wire 350A. The rear tabs 394 may help secure
the bottom insert 380 to the bottom wire mesh portion 356. While
the example embodiment in FIGS. 14-24 illustrate the bottom insert
380 as having five rear tabs 394, the bottom insert 380 may have
any number of tabs 394, (i.e. two tabs, three tabs, four tabs, or a
the number of tabs 394 is equal to a number of openings formed
along wire 350A by the wire mesh portion 356). In addition, the
bottom insert 380 may also have a plurality of forward tabs 396
that extend forward from the front surface 386. Each of the forward
tabs 396 may extend above the top surface 382 and have a ledge 399,
where the ledge 399 engages a perimeter wire 350C on the front wall
303. When installed, the ledge 399 may be located rearward of
perimeter wire 350C. The ledge 399 may have a tapered region where
a thickness the uppermost portion of the ledge 399 may be smaller
than a lower portion of the ledge 399. The bottom surface 384 of
the bottom insert 380 may be located on top of a central forward
region 357 of a plurality of individual wires 350B that extend from
the front end 302 to the rear end 304 of the bottom wall 311. In
addition, a forwardmost edge 393 of corner surfaces 392 may be
located forward of front surface 386 such that front surface 386 is
spaced rearward of edge 393.
In addition, side surfaces 390 may extend from the bottom surface
384 to an uppermost surface 391, where the uppermost surface 391
may have an engaging member 395 extending inward away from the side
surfaces 390. The engaging member 395 may form an upper undercut
398 between the engaging member 395 and the top surface 382. The
bottom insert 380 may also have a plurality of openings 389 that
extend through the top and bottom surfaces 382, 384. The openings
389 may have substantially square shaped openings or alternatively,
the openings 389 may have any geometric shape.
A left corner insert 360A may extend from the front wall 303 to the
left side wall 307 and a right corner insert 360B may extend from
the front wall 303 to the right side wall 309. The corner insert
360 may have a length when measured in a direction oriented from
the front end 302 to the rear end 304 of approximately 15 percent
of the overall length of the bottom wall 311, or may have a length
within a range of 10 percent to 20 percent of the overall length of
the bottom wall 311. As shown in FIG. 36, each corner insert 360A,
360B may include an outward facing surface 362, an inward facing
surface 364 opposite the outward facing surface 362. The inward
facing surface 364 may have a plurality of grooves 366. The grooves
366 may receive a plurality of perimeter wires 350C that extend
along the side walls 307, 309 and front wall 303. Each groove 366
may engage a single perimeter wire 350C of the plurality of wires
arranged along the side walls 307, 309 and the front wall 303. The
engagement between the grooves 366 and the wires 350C may help to
secure the corner inserts 360 in a vertical orientation.
Additionally, each corner insert 360 may have a lower engaging
member 368 that extends from a lower surface 370 such that the
engaging member 368 forms a lower undercut 371 between the lower
surface 370 and the lower engaging member 368. The lower engaging
member 368 may be received into the undercut 398 of the bottom
insert 380 and the engaging member 395 of the bottom insert 380 may
be received in undercut 371 to secure the bottom insert 380 to each
corner insert 360. In some examples, these engaging members 368,
395 and corresponding undercuts 371, 398 may form a snap fit
connection between each corner insert 360 and the bottom insert
380.
In addition, each corner insert 360 may have an upper engaging
member 372 extending from an upper surface 374, where the upper
engaging member 372 contacts an outer surface of the uppermost
perimeter wire 350C of the wire basket portion 312. Engaging member
372 may also have a protrusion 376 that extends outwardly away from
wire 350. The engaging member 372 and protrusion 376 may engage a
lower undercut within recess 325 in the forward handle 314. The
engaging member 372 and undercut may form a snap-fit connection
between the forward handle 314 and each corner insert 360 to secure
the corner insert 360 to the forward handle 314. As another
feature, the outward facing surface 362 of each corner insert 360
may have a substantially rounded shape. These rounded corners may
help to better nest the shopping carts together and further may
improve durability as the lack of sharp corners may enhance the
durability of the corner inserts 360. The outward facing surface
362 may have a variable radius where the radius of the rounded
outward facing surface is within a range of 10 centimeters (cm) and
15 cm, or within a range of 8 cm and 18 cm. As another element, the
corner inserts 360 may include a plurality of openings 378 that
extend through the outward facing surface 362 and inward facing
surface 364.
As discussed above, the wire basket portion 312 may include a
plurality of individual wires oriented horizontally and vertically
that cross at right angles to each other to form a wire mesh 313.
The wire mesh 313 may form a portion of the front wall 303, side
walls 307, 309, and bottom wall 311. In certain regions, the wire
mesh 313 may have regions within the wire basket portion 312. For
instance, the wire basket portion 312 may have a bottom wire mesh
region 356 that forms a part of the bottom wall 311, and a central
forward region 357 located in the forward region 354 of the wire
basket portion 312. The central forward region 357 may only have
wires 350B extending in a front-to-rear direction that extends from
the front end 302 to the rear end 304 (i.e. the central forward
region is free of wires extending from the left side 306 to the
right side 308). The bottom insert 380 may attach via the rear tabs
394 to engage the forwardmost horizontal wire 350A of the bottom
wire mesh region 356. This absence of the horizontal wires in the
central forward region 357 allows the bottom insert 380 to form the
forward corners of the bottom wall 311. In addition, the forward
corner regions 359 of the wire basket portion 312 may only have
perimeter wires 350C (i.e. wires that extend around the outer
perimeter of the wire basket portion 312 from the left side wall
307 to the front wall 303 and from the front wall 303 to the right
side wall 309.
FIGS. 23-32 illustrate the assembly of the shopping cart basket
300. To assemble shopping cart basket 300, first the bottom insert
380 may be inserted into the wire basket portion 312 from the top
where a portion of the ledge 397 of the rear tabs 394 of the bottom
insert 380 are inserted underneath the forwardmost wire 350A of the
bottom wire mesh region 356 as shown in FIG. 24. The wire basket
portion 312 may be prepared separately prior to assembling the
corner inserts 360, bottom insert 380, forward handle 314 as will
be discussed in more detail below. Next, the bottom insert 380 may
be pressed down to engage the forward tabs 396 with the lowermost
horizontal wire 350C along the front wall 303 as shown in FIG. 25.
Once the bottom insert 380 is installed, each of the corner inserts
360 may be assembled by first engaging the lower engaging member
368 to the upper undercut and engaging member of the bottom insert
360 as shown in FIG. 26. When the engaging member 368 is contacting
the upper undercut 398, the corner insert 360 may be rotated upward
to receive the forward wires 350C into the grooves 366 until the
upper engaging member 372 contacts an uppermost wire 350C along the
front and side walls 303, 307, 309 as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28.
Next, the recess 325 of the forward handle 314 is lowered onto the
uppermost wire 350C. The upper engaging member 372 of the corner
insert 360 is also received into the recess 325 in conjunction with
the uppermost wire 350 as shown in FIGS. 29-31. The forward handle
314 may have a snap fit engagement over the upper engaging member
372 and the uppermost wire 350C. Lastly, a plurality of mechanical
elements 327 (i.e. mechanical fasteners such as screws, rivets,
dowels, or other releasable or permanent mechanical element) may be
inserted into a plurality of tabs 329 that extend below from the
inward and outward facing surfaces of arms 320 and main body
portion 316 of the forward handle 314 as shown in FIG. 32.
FIGS. 33-35 illustrate the assembly of the wire basket portion 312.
The wire basket portion 312 may include a plurality of individual
wires 350A, 350B oriented horizontally and vertically that cross at
right angles to each other to form a wire mesh 313. The wire mesh
313 may form the bottom wire mesh region 356, and in some examples,
the wire mesh 313 may be formed as a flat sheet with regions where
the horizontal and vertical wires extend without other wires
crossing them. The wires 350 may then be formed to form the front
and side wall members of the wire basket portion 312 where
perimeter wires 350C may be attached to support the side walls 307,
309 and the front walls 303. Lastly, the wires extending above the
uppermost perimeter wire 350C may be trimmed to form the wire
basket portion 312.
Similar to the handle region 114 above, the forward handle 314,
corner inserts 360, and bottom insert 380 may be formed of a
polymer material, such as nylon, polycarbonate, or other rigid
polymer. The polymer material may be fiber filled or unfilled.
Further, the forward handle 314, corner inserts 360, and bottom
insert 380 may be formed from a molding process such as injection
or rotational molding.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific
examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the
invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are
numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems
and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be
construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *